Twitter is a simple yet powerful tool that organizations can use to connect with their audiences and spread awareness about their work. However, as with all tools, to be effective you must use it correctly. We’ve compiled some tips to help you use Twitter the right way:

Join the Conversation

Twitter is fast paced and news driven. Join the conversation and stay relevant by keeping an eye on trending topics. Don’t be afraid to respond and comment on current events as they happen. However –as with anything– think before you tweet. Stay true to your brand’s voice and values, and consider the relevancy for your organization to join the conversation.

Use Visuals

To increase engagement, favorites and retweets, include pictures in your tweets. According to research conducted by Twitter, photos increase retweets by 35 percent and videos increase retweets by 28 percent. With approximately 6,000 tweets sent every second, images help your tweets stand out among the noise. Don’t forget that Twitter treats images like links, which means they always take up 23 characters. If you plan to include both a link and an image in your tweet, budget for 46 characters.  

Don’t Forget The #Hashtag

Hashtags are a vital part of Twitter. They improve the visibility of your content and increase engagement. According to Twitter, hashtags increase retweets by 16 percent. However, don’t go overboard. Using more than two hashtags in a tweet can decrease retweets, plus it makes your tweets look messy.

Be strategic about using hashtags. Do some research to find relevant hashtags for your audience and focus area. Pick a few hashtags to use consistently, but also pay attention to new and trending topics. Be sure to monitor your key hashtags to engage in relevant conversations, find interesting content and connect with new people.

A word of caution: always research hashtags before you use them. You may find that words you think are appropriate are actually used by people or organizations you don’t want to be connected with.

Be Responsive

This is true for all social media, but it’s especially important on Twitter: when people tweet to your organization, they expect a response. In fact, a study conducted by Lithium Technologies found that 53 percent of users who tweet at a brand expect a response within an hour. People don’t like feeling ignored. Failing to respond can lead to negative opinions about your organization. It is important to respond to both positive remarks and negative opinions. Ignoring complaints can cause users to escalate their negativity by shaming the organization on social media or taking their support elsewhere.

Meanwhile, timely responses can foster positive relationships, making the user more likely to support your organization and recommend it to their friends. People love receiving replies and mentions on Twitter — it makes them happy because it makes them feel recognized and appreciated.

We’d love to hear from you — what are your must-know Twitter tips?